A&W Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada thank Canadians for their outstanding support

VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. is proud to announce its 5th annual Cruisin' for a Cause, held last week on August 22, raised more than $1.45 million in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and its programs that benefit Canadians touched by the disease.  In total, Cruisin' for a Cause has raised more than $5 million over the past five years to help those living with MS in communities across the country.

"This is a dream come true for all of us at A&W who hoped to reach this milestone in our fifth year. The ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to this very important cause has grown each and every year," said Paul Hollands, President and CEO, A&W Food Services of Canada. "On behalf of A&W, I would like to thank and congratulate all of our customers, employees, franchisees, car clubs, the MS Society and other supporters across Canada who helped us reach this significant goal."

During this year's Cruisin' for a Cause, the top three fundraising restaurants, each raising more than $20,000, are located in Alberta. Leading the pack is an A&W in Grande Prairie, which raised $24,636, followed by two locations in Fort McMurray, raising $23,074 and $22,359.

"Thank you to the A&W family for their continued commitment towards ending MS. Each year we are astonished at the support we receive through this community-driven event. It reminds us that MS affects all Canadians, and that support for people impacted by this disease is thriving across our country," said Yves Savoie, President and CEO of the MS Society of Canada. "We are proud of our partnership with the A&W family and their tradition of giving back to the community."

A&W restaurants across Canada helped raise funds through the sale of cut-outs, customer contributions, and donations of $1 from every Teen Burger® sold on August 22.  Cruisin' for a Cause (or le Rendez-vous A&W pour stopper la SP as it is known in Quebec) raised both funds and awareness of multiple sclerosis through a variety of events including classic car gatherings, retro music, A&W Root Beer® chugging contests, car hop service and car hop relay races, car washes, and Great A&W Root Bear® visits.

Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, making research and support for people with MS and their families critical. Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada and affects more than 100,000 Canadians - with women three times more likely to develop MS than men.

Cruisin' for a Cause creates an opportunity for the many Canadians who grew up enjoying warm summer evenings at the drive-in—often with the radio blaring and trays of Teen Burgers®, fresh-made onion rings and icy cold A&W Root Beer® delivered to their car by car hops—to revisit those fond memories while supporting the MS Society of Canada.

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. is 100 per cent Canadian owned and is one of the strongest brand names in the Canadian foodservice industry. A&W is the nation's second largest hamburger restaurant company with over 780 locations coast-to-coast.  A&W Restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger Family®, Chubby Chicken®, and A&W Root Beer®. For more information, please visit www.aw.ca.

About multiple sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40, and the unpredictable effects of MS last for the rest of their lives. The MS Society provides services to people with MS and their families and funds research to find the cause and cure for this disease. Please visit www.mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 to make a donation or for more information.

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Image with caption: "Last week's A&W Cruisin' for a Cause raised $1.45 million for the MS Society. In Calgary: Yves Savoie, President & CEO, MS Society of Canada, Paul Hollands, President & CEO, A&W Food Services of Canada, Great A&W Root Bear®, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Tyson Lefebvre, A&W franchisee, and MP Deepak Obhrai. (CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130829_C8972_PHOTO_EN_30238.jpg